Sun's gas cloud creates 'dazzling' aurora

An aurora dances in the atmosphere on Aug. 20, 2014, as the International Space Station flew over North America. This image was captured by astronaut Reid Wiseman from his vantage point on the ISS. (Photo: NASA/Handout/QMI Agency)

QMI Agency

A giant cloud of gas from the sun created a "dazzling" aurora over North America Tuesday evening, which was captured by astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

The gas cloud set off a geomagnetic storm that created "the dazzling, green-blue lights of an aurora," NASA said on its website, calling it "a special sight for the astronauts on board the space station."

A photo of the aurora was taken by American astronaut Reid Wiseman. He tweeted it out, saying, "Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this."